Boat reciprocating paddle device



Dec. 29, 1959 Filed Nov. 15, 1957 -5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

0660 Elabw zde,

- Dec. 29, 1959 Q. KLABUNDE BOAT RECIPROCATING PADDLE DEVICE 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1957 INVENTOR, 0X10 ffla aarzde, BY LjflDec. 29, 1959 KLABUNDE 2,918,891

BOAT RECIPROCATING PADDLE DEVICE Filed Nov. 15, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet i5United States Patent 2,918,891 BOAT RECIPROCATING PADDLE DEVICE OttoKlabunde, Chicago, 111.

Application November 15, 1957, Serial No. 696,700 15 Claims. 01. 115-31The present invention relates to boat propelling devices of the paddletype.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a pair ofrods supported within a boat in a spaced relation on horizontal planewith the gunwales, for longitudinal and rotary movements, and includingpaddle supporting arms which by their inner ends are rigidly aflixed tothe rods, and with their outer ends extending beyond the sides of theboat and to which latter ends paddles are afiixed in a pivotal relation,and provided with means for imparting a rotary movement to said rods foralternately immersing the paddles in the water or lifting the sametherefrom, which said means is capable of imparting longitudinalshifting movement to the rods in order to cause the paddles to bearagainst the water when the paddles are immersed and thereby to propelthe boat.

Another object of the present invention is the provision, in a boatpropelling device of the type hereinabove indicated, of tensioning meanscounteracting the weight of the paddles, for aiding the lifting of thepaddles from water.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a mechanismwhereby the paddle may be lifted to its maximum inoperative position,beyond the vertical plane coincidental with the side of a boat, andtowards the longitudinal center of the boat, in order that the paddlemay clear the side of the boat so that the boat may be able to clear anyobstruction along the side of the boat or to permit docking without theinterference from the paddle.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision inassociation with the paddle-supporting arm, of a swivel connectioncausing the paddle to assume a vertical inoperative position from itshorizontal, immersed and intermediate positions, thereby permitting thepaddle to clear the side of the boat and its gunwale as the paddle isshifted from one to the other of the said positions.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of suitablemeans for supporting the paddle supporting arms upon the gunwales andfor guiding the same therealong in their longitudinal shifting movement.

A still further object of the present invention is, the provision of asuitable locking device, in association with the rods aforesaid, forpreventing the paddles from falling into water due to'their weight, whenthe paddles have been lifted from water and when it is desired tomaintain the paddles in a lifted inoperative position.

A still further object of the present invention is to generally improvea boat propelling device of a paddle pusher type.

With the above general objects in view and others that will appear asthe invention is better understood, the same consists in the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter morefully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed outin the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which likedesignating characters refer to correspond ing parts throughout theseveral views;

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the present invention, adjacent one side ofa boat;

Fig. 2 is a transverse cross sectional view through a boat, showing apair of boat propelling devices, one adjacent each side of a boat;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view, transversely of a boat, ofthe means for supporting the pusher rod upon the gunwale for guiding ittherealong when the pusher rod is longitudinally shifted, illustratingthe inoperative dotted line position of said means when the pusher rodhas been rotated in order to elevate the paddles, the view having beentaken along the plane indicated by line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the said means, the view havingbeen taken upon a plane substantially degrees from the plane of Fig. 3;v

Fig. 5 is a top elevational view, partly in section of the lockingdevice, for locking the pusher rod to the pusher rod supporting arm formaintaining the pusher rod rigid when the same has been rotatablyshifted for lifting the paddles from water, for maintaining the latterin their inoperative lifted position;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view, transversely of the pusher rod,showing a locking drum in elevation, the view having been taken upon aplane indicated by line 66 of Fig. 5; v

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional jview through a boat,illustrating the position of one boat propelling paddle when brought toits vertical, inoperative position, disposed above the boat, from itshorizontal lifted or immersed positions illustrated in Fig. 2; i

Fig. 8 is an enlarged edge view, partly in section, of a swivelconnection mechanism for aiding bringing the paddle from its immersedoperative position, shown at the right hand of Fig. 2, to its raisedinoperative position, shown in Fig. 7, the'view having been takenonplanes indicated by lines 88 in Figs. 2 and 9; and

Fig. 9 is a face elevational view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig.8, the view having been taken substantially at an angle of 90 degreesfrom that of Fig. 8.

Referring in detail to the present drawings, there is shown therein boat10, including sides 11 thereof, and gunwales 12. Aflixed to the innerfaces of gunwales 12 on each side of the boat is a plurality ofdownwardly tapered stays 13 for insertion therewithin from upwarddirection of cleats 14. Rigidly aflixed to said cleats 14 and extendinginwardly ot' the boat substantially in a horizontal direction, are arms15.

Inner ends of said armslS terminate in eyes 16, within which sleeves 17are positioned. Extended through said sleeves 17, on each side of theboat, is a pusher rod 18. Said eyes 16 and sleeves 17 define bearingsfor supporting pusher rods 18, oneon each side of the boat. Adjacent therear end of each pusher rod 1 8 is block 19. rigidly affixed thereto,supporting in a rigid relation handle 2%, whereby either rotary orlongitudinal shifting movement to each pusher rod 18 may be impartedwhen grasped by the operators hand. 7

Each of .said pusher rods 18 may be made of any suitable material,including hard wood. If wood is employed, in that event it is preferableto make the rod in sections, with the ends of adjacent sectionsconnected by tubular members 21, which by their ends may be con nectedwith the adjacent ends of the wooden sections by means of pins andbayonet slot connections 22. Said tubular members 21 would coincide withpoints to which the remaining parts of the mechanism are connected,because at those points it is preferable that the mechanical parts ofthe device be connected at and with the metallic tubular portions of thepusher rod. In the alteresteem 3 native, the entire rod 18 may be made.of metallic tubular material.

Rigidly clamped to the pusher rod 18, or more specifically to itsmetallic tubular portion 21 is block 23, from which paddle supportingarm 24 extends above gunwale 12 and outwardly of boat 10. The outer endof each of said paddle supporting arms 24 has a pivotal swivelconnection which is generally indicated by 25 in Figs. 1, 2, and 7, andwhich is shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9. Rod 26 by its free end isengaged by said swivel connection 25, in a manner which will behereinafter described. Affixed to the opposite end of each rod as ispaddle 27, preferably made out of metallic rigid sheet and has asubstantially rectangular formation, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 7.

Clamped to each arm 24, adjacent its end which is in proximity ofsaidblock 23, is block 28, to which bar 29 is alfixcd by means of screw 30(Fig. 4). Carried by said bar 29 and entering corresponding bore orbores made in said block 28 is one or more pins 31, for the purpose ofrigidly connecting said bar 29 with block 28 and for preventing pivotalshifting movement of said bar 29 upon screw 34) with relation to saidblock 28.

.For the sake of clarity said block 23 and bar 29, including theappurtenances of the latter, are not shown in Figs. 2 and 7.

Loosely positioned upon rod 18, or upon the tubular portion 21 thereof,and forwardly of block 23 is collar 32, with which rod 33 is connected,and from which the latter extends in a horizontal direction abovegunwale 12.

Adjacent each end of collar 32, stop 34 engages the tubular portion 21for causing collar 32, with rod 33, to shift bodily with the pusher rod18 when the latter is longitudinally shifted to one or the oppositedirection, but for permitting rod 18 or its tubular portion 21 to freelyrotate within said collar 32.

Journalled at the free end of each rod 33, for a rotary movement, is arubber anti-friction roller 35 which rests upon gunwale 12 when thepaddle supporting arm 24 remains in its lowered, paddle-immersedoperative position, for riding upon the upper edge of gunwale 12 whenpusher rod 18 is longitudinally shifted to one or the oppositedirection, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4.

Encompassing pusher rod 13, or more specifically its tubular metallicportion 21 is coil spring 36, which is normally under a contractedtension. One end of said coil spring 36 is engaged with collar 37. Screw38 passed through said collar 37 engages said tubular metallic portion21, for maintaining said coil spring 36 in its adjusted tensionedposition. The degree of tension of coil spring 36 may be regulated byrotating said collar 37 on loosening screw 38, to one or the oppositedirection, and when the required degree of tension to spring 36 has beenimparted screw 38 is again engaged with the tubular portion 21 formaintaining said spring 36 in its adjusted degree of tension.

The opposite end of said spring 36 is directed away from the pusher rod,substantially in parallelism with rod 33, and is terminated in loop 39which engages said rod 33, at a point adjacent the inner end of bumperroller 40. Said bumper roller 40 is mounted upon said gosd 33 in aspaced relation with said anti-friction roller By virtue of theconnection of said spring 36 with said rod 33, said spring 36 exerts apressure upon said rod 33 for urging said rod 33 in an upward directionfor facilitating lifting of paddle 27 out of water, by counterbalancingthe weight thereof, as will be later apparent.

'It is noted that the connection of bar 29 with block 28, through themedium of screw 30 and pin 31, is adjacent the upper end of said bar 29,as is seen in Fig. 4.

Afiixed to the forward face of bar 29, and adjacent each end of bar 29,by means of screw 41 is stop 42, which may be made of hard rubber and ofcylindrical formation. Said stops 412 are in the path of said bumperroller 40.

When paddle 27 is immersed in water, as is shown in the left handposition of Fig. 2, roller 35 remains in contact with the upper edge ofgunwale 12, with the upper stop 42 in contact with bumper roller 40 atan upper point of the periphery of the latter, as seen in Figs. 1, 3 and4. While in that position of the said parts, paddle 27 is immersed, withhandle 20 in a vertical position. When said handle 20 remains in avertical position and is manually grasped and pulled towards the rearend of the boat, paddle 27 will be caused to shift in the samedirection, to bear against water rearwardly of paddle 27, for propellingthe boat forwardly.

On completion of the rearward stroke of paddle 27, the latter is liftedfrom the water upon angularly shifting of handle 24 toward the center ofthe boat. This operation of handle 2% will impart a rotary movement topusher rod 18 for the purpose of angularly shifting arm 24 and elevatingthe same above gunwale 12, position shown at the right hand of Fig. 2,for lifting paddle 27 out of water. At the inception of the angularshifting movement of handle 2%, from vertical to angular, anti-frictionroller 35 comes out of engagement with the upper edge of gunwale 12, dueto the action of spring 36 upon said rod 33. Upper stop 42 continues toremain in contact with bumper roller iii at the inception of the angularshifting movement of handle 20, by virtue of the action of spring 36upon said rod 33.

At the inception of the angular shifting movement of handle 20, fromvertical to angular, spring 36 causes bumper roller 40 to exert pressureupon the upper stop 42 in an upward direction, the force of said spring36, added to the manual force exerted at handle 20, facilitating angularshifting movement of arm 24 in an upward direction, for shifting paddle27 in an upward direction from its immersed position to its intermediateposition, illustrated at the right hand showing in Fig. 2. During theinception of a later stage of the angular shifting movement of saidhandle 23, in order to bring the latter from its upward angular positionshown at the right hand of Fig. 2 to its downwardly shifted position,illustrated in Fig. 7, lower stop 42 comes in contact with said bumperroller 40 at the lowermost point of the periphery of the latter, as isindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, with the upper stop 42 disengagedfrom said bumper roller 40 and in a spaced relation therewith.

During the final stage of the angular shifting movement of said handle20-, from its intermediate position shown at the right hand of Fig. 2,to its ultimate downwardly disposed position, shown in Fig. 7, the lowerstop 42 hearing against bumper 40 from below, will cause rod 33 toangularly shift to almost, but not quite, vertical position, a positionwhich is beyond that illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

To summarize, during the shifting movement of paddle 27 from itsimmersed position, shown at the left hand of Fig. 2, to its intermediateposition, illustrated at the right hand of Fig. 2, rod 33 with theanti-friction roller 35 and bumper 40 angularly shifts to the dottedposition shown in Fig. 3, being aided in that shifting movement both byspring 36 and by the manual pressure exerted at handle 20. During thelater stage of the shifting movement of said paddle 27 to itsintermediate lifted position lower stop 42 comes in contact with bumper46, as is shown in dotted lines of Fig. 3. During the shift ing movementof said paddle 27 from its said intermediate position to its completelyvertical lifted position, shown in Fig. 7, bar 29 is bodily shifted due'to the continued angular shifting movement of arm 24, and by virtue ofthe connection between said bar 29 and said arm 24 through block 28, tocause said rod 33 to assume almost a vertical position due to thebearing of the lower stop 42 at the lowermost point of bumper 49. Thevarious angular shifted positions that rod 33 assumes is by virtue ases;

of actuation thereof by spring 36 and lower stop 42, and not due to therotary shifting movement of pusher rod 18 or its tubular portion 22.,bearing in mind that said rod 33 is loosely connected with said pusherrod 18 through the loosely positioned collar 32 thereon.

It is noted that bar 29 remains at an angle relative to rod 33 so thatboth stops 42 remain upon an arc, whose radius is the distance from thelongitudinal center of pusher rod 18 to the axial center of either ofsaid stops 42. By virtue of this arrangement the contact point of theupper stop 42 with bumper roller 40, when paddle 27 is immersed in wateror approaches its intermediate position aforesaid, is at a diametricallyopposite point at which the lower stop 42 contacts said bumper roller 40when said paddle approaches the said intermediate position or when thelatter is in its vertical inoperative position shown in Fig. 7. Whilemanually maintaining said handle 20 in its angular intermediateposition, illustrated at the right hand of Fig. 2, with paddle 27 in theposition disposed above the water, said handle 20 is manually pressedforwardly to shift pusher rod 18 in a forward direction for therebyshifting forwardly and bodily said arm 24 and paddle 27, while thelatter still remains in its said intermediate position. When the boathas moved forwardly and as far as desired by virtue of the precedingpaddle pushing operation, handle 20 is again brought to a verticalposition for immersing paddle 27, the position shown at the left hand ofFig. 2. This having been done handle 20 is again manually pulled to therearward direction of theboat to repeat the propelling operation.

There may be one, two or more of paddle supporting arms 24, with apaddle 27 connected with each, and with said paddle supporting arms 24connected to a single pusher rod 18, on each side of the boat.

The locking device, best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, has for its object theprovision of means whereby pusher rod 18 may be rigidly connected withthe boat, or more specifically with arm 15, preferably when paddles 27remain in their inoperative lifted position. Said locking deviceincludes a clamping block 43 engaged with arm 15. Laterally projectingfrom said block 43 is casing 44, open at its outer end from which a pairof rollers 45 project. The inner ends of said rollers 45 have reducedstuds 46 by means of which said rollers 45 are journalled within casing44. Preferably said rollers 45 are made of hard rubber. Optionally thecenters of said rollers 45, including said studs 46 may be made ofmetal, with a rubber sheath enveloping each metallic center.

Afiixed to pusher rod 18 is clamp block 47 from which stud 48 laterallyprojects. Block 49' is rigidly affixed to said stud 48 in a clampedrelation. Extending laterally from said block 49 is a reduced lug 50'.Drum, generally indicated by 5-1, is provided with a central opening 52at its bottom 53. Said drum 51 is insertable upon said pusher rod 18 bypassing the same through said opening 52. Adjacent its rim 54 the bottom53 of drum51 is provided with a cup-shaped, inwardly directed depression55 within which lug 50 enters. Screw 56 passed through the bottomportion of said cup-like depression 55 engages the bottom of drum 51with said lug 50 and block 49. Stud 48 may be either an independent partcarried by said pusher rod 18, or it may be one of the said paddlesupporting arms 24. In either event said casing 44 should be distancedfrom drum 51 so that the two may not interfere with the normal pushingoperation of the pusher rod 18 hereinabove described for propelling theboat.

When the propelling operation has ended, and paddles 27 have been liftedto their inoperative raised position, as shown in Fig. 7, it is then,and only then when it is desirable to interlock pusher rods 18 with arms15. To

do this pusher rods '18 are shifted forwardly, and beyond the normalshifting range required for boat propelling operation, until the rimportion 54 has entered the armate slot 57 made in casing 44, saidarcuateslot 57 being on a plane coincidental with the space defined bytwo rollers 45. When within said slot 57 and said space defined by saidrollers 45, said rim 54 is frictionally engaged by the peripheries ofthe two rollers 45, thereby preventing rotary shifting movement of saiddrum 51 or the rotary movement of said pusher rods 18, it being notedthat each pusher rod 18 is in engagement 'with drum 51 through themedium of screw 56, rendering said drum 51 incapable of independentrotary movement with relation to pusher rod 18.

Obviously rollers 45 are capable of engaging rim 54 at any point of theperiphery of the latter, and therefore without regard to any particularangle of elevation of paddle suppotring arms 24 or of the position ofpaddles 27 with relation to the water surface.

Since stays 13 have downwardly convering walls and cleats 14 havedownwardly converging faces, when said stays 13 remain within cleats 14the entire boat propelling device, including pusher rod 18, arm 24 andpaddle 27 and their appurtenances will be firmly and rigidly supportedwithin the boat. Obviously, on shifting cleats 14 in an upward directionwithin stays 13 the entire propelling device may be disconnected fromthe boat.

When the upper stop 42 is in contact with bumper 40, the same supportsthe weight of arm 24 and of paddle 27 upon rod 33, and prevents anyfurther downward shifting movement of said arm 24, thereby maintainingsaid arm 24 in a spaced relation with gunwale 12 when said arm remainsin its horizontal operative position, as is seen in Figs. 2 and 4. Byvirtue of this arrangement arm 24 is prevented to contact with gunwale12, obviating any dragging of the former upon the latter. Thus, whensaid arm 24 remains in its horizontal operative position, with paddle 27immersed in water anti-friction roller 35 alone is in contact withgunwale 12 for guiding the shifting movement of pusher rod 18, arm 24and paddle 27 in a longitudinal direction with relation to the boat. i

It is further observed that spring 36 at all times urges rod 33 to anupward angular position, irrespective whether said rod 33 is in ahorizontal or almost vertical position. When in a horizontal position,seen in Fig. 3, the weight of arm 24 and paddle 27 is supported uponsaid rod 33 by virtue of'the contact of upper stop 42 with bumper roller40, thereby overcoming the action of spring 36 upon said rod 33. Oncethe manual pressure is applied to handle 20 in orderto shift the latterfrom its vertical position shown at the left hand of Fig. 2 to thedownwardly shifted position shown in Fig. 7, the weight of arm 24 andpaddle 27 will be removed from said rod 33, due to the removal of thecontactual pressure thereagainst by the upper stop 42, permitting fullplay of spring 36 upon said rod 33 in order to bring the latter to analmost vertical position as will be apparent on reference to Fig. 7. Itis further noted that when paddle 27 is in its inoperative raisedposition shown'in Fig. 7, the weight thereof alone. will not overcomethe action of spring 36 upon said rod 33 in view'of the fact that thecenter of gravity of ports20, 24, 26 and 27 is disposed towards thelongitudinal center of the boat and past the vertical plane extended ina longitudinal relation through the fulcrum defined by pusher rod 18. Byvirtue of this arrangement the weight of paddle 27 when the latterremains in the position shown in Fig. 7 will be wholly inoperative inorderto overcome the action of said spring 36 in order to bring saidpaddle27 to its operative immersed position shown at the left hand ofFig. 2. In that inoperative raised position of paddle 27 shown in Fig. 7said paddle 27 will continue to remain in its inoperative raisedposition until manual pressure at handle 20 is applied in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 7 for angularly shiftingsaid arm 24 away from the longitudinal center of the boat. During thisshifting movement, once fulcrum 25 passes the vertical plane of fulcrum18, and in the direction outwardly of side 11 of the boat, the weight ofarm 24 and paddle 27 will be sufficient tobring said arm 24 and paddle27 to their operative positions shown at the left hand of Fig. 2, inorder to overcome the action of said spring 36 upon rod 33, without anyaid from the manual pressure at handle 20 to bring the latter to itsvertical position shown at the left hand of Fig. 2, except a degree ofmanual hold at said handle 20 for easing said arm 24 and paddle 27 totheir operative position and thereby preventing sudden drop and jarringof the mechanism.

Once the upper stop 42 has come in contact with bumper roller 40, theweight of said arm 24 and paddle 27 is imparted to bumper 40 by theupper stop 42, shifts said rod 33 and the anti-friction roller 35downwardly against the action of spring 36 for the purpose of bringingan operative contactual engagement of said anti-friction roller 35 withgunwale 12. It is clear that the angular shifting movement of rod 33 inan upward direction from the horizontal position is not by virtue of therotary shifting movement of pusher rod 18, bearing in mind the looseconnection of the former with the latter through the medium of collar32, but solely by virtue of the action of coil spring 36 upon said rod33, once the weight of arm 24 and paddle 27 is removed from said rod 33,that is upon the upward shifting of said upper stop 42 and away from itscontact with bumper 46, which of course is accomplished by the manualangular shifting of handle 20 from the vertical, as at the left handside of Fig. 2, towards the longitudinal center of the boat, as

at the right hand side of Fig. 2 and in Fig. 7.

Obviously, when the boat is brought to a dock it is required that paddle27 should be moved from its operative horizontal position shown in Fig.2 to a raised inoperative position illustrated in Fig. 7. This could notbe practically accomplished unless swivel connection 25 were renderedinoperative, or more specifically, unless during some point of anangular shifting movement of arm 24 from horizontal to vertical, rod 26became interlocked with said arm 24. The mechanism to accomplish 58 hasan integrally formed lug 60. Said latter end of said cylindrical member58 and said lug 66 are provided with a threaded bore which is in aco-axial relation with said cylindrical member 58, for receivingtherewithin clamping screw 61, the free outer end of which is providedwith an integrally formed head 62. Passed through said head 62, in atransverse relation, is pin 63, which may be manually grasped forselectively turning said screw 61 in either direction. Normally saidscrew 61 engages and bears against said rod 26 for clamping the same ina rigid adjusted relation with said cylindrical member 58.

Arm 24 may be tubular for receiving within its outer free endcylindrical plug 64, which is maintained rigid within said arm 24 bymeans of a transverse pin 65 passed through said arm 24 and said plug64. Rigidly formed with, and depending from, the outer end of said plug64 is a flat head 66.

Contacting with one face of said head 66 is plate 67.

Rigidly formed with and extending from the opposite end of saidcylindrical member 58 is screw bolt 68, which is in a threadedengagement with sleeve 69 in a longitudinal relation. Said sleeve 69 ispositioned within the alined bores made transversely of said head 66 andplate 67, wherein said sleeve 69 remains in a frictional engagement withboth said head 66 and said plate 67.

8 The friction therebetween may be overcome, however, by the weight ofarm 24 and paddle 27 so as to permit pivotal shifting movement of saidhead 66 and said plate 67 either in unison or independently of eachother, upon said sleeve 69.

Thus said screw bolt 68 and sleeve 69 define a pivot upon which said rod26 and arm 24 make an angular shifting movement relative to each other.Said screw bolt 68 and sleeve 69 will be thereafter collectivelyreferred to as pivot 68.

Rigidly afiixed to said plate 67 and extending in a lateral directionfrom the exposed face thereof is stop pin 70 which is in the path of theend portion of said rod 26 disposed above the longitudinal axis of saidcylindrical member 58 and pivot 68. Said pin 70 is radially distancedfrom the axial center of said pivot 68.

Made in said plate 67 in a radial relation with the axial center of saidpivot 68 is an arcuate slot 71 through which the shank of screw 72 isfreely passed. The threaded end of screw 72 is driven into bore 73 forthreadedly engaging head 66. The head of screw 72 contacts with andbears against the body portion of said plate 67 adjacent said slot 71for clamping said plate 67 to said head 66, for maintaining said plate67 in a rotatably adjusted relation with pivot 68 for bringing said stoppin 76 towards or away from rod 26. The adjustment of said stop pin 70with relation to rod 26 is accomplished by loosening screw 72 andthereupon rotatably shifting plate 67 upon sleeve 69 to one or theopposite direction. This shifting movement of plate 67 is permitted dueto the arcuate slot 71 when screw 72 is loosened and thereby theclamping action of the screw head upon plate 67 is removed.

From the hereinabove description of the said swivel connection 25, shownin detail in Figs. 8 and 9; it will be apparent that when paddle 27remains immersed, position shown at the left hand of Fig. 2, rod 26 willremain in a spaced relation with pin 70. In that position of paddle 27,the outer end of arm 24 will remain at an angle with relation to saidrod 26, as seen in Fig. 9. It is further noted that with the respect ofeach paddle 27 pin 70, in each of the two swivel connections 25, will bedisposed on the far side of rod 26, that is farthest removed from side11 of the boat.

The spaced relation of pin 70 with the coacting rod 26 on each side ofthe boat will be maintained even when arm 24 is angularly shifted in anupward direction for bringing paddle 27 to its intermediate liftedposition above water, shown at the right hand of Fig. 2. When however,handle 20 is further angularly shifted in a downward direction in orderto bring paddle 27 to its ultimately inoperative raised position shownin Fig. 7, the outer end of arm 24 will assume a substantiallyhorizontal position, with the upper edge of paddle 27 assuming aposition on a plane above the horizontal plane of the upper edge ofgunwale 12. At that very instant, due to the angular shifting movementof the outer end of arm 24 in an upward direction, aided by the gravityof paddle 27, and the consequent urge of the latter upon rod 26 tomaintain said rod 26 in its vertical position, pin 70 will be shiftedtoward rod 26 to bear thereagainst. Once said pin 70 having come incontact with rod 26, further angular shifting movement of arm 24 in anupward direction, and beyond its intermediate position shown at theright hand of Fig. 2, will continue to maintain the contactual relationof pin 70 with rod 26. By virtue of the continuing engagement of saidpin 70 with rod 26, as said arm 24 angularly shifts in an upwarddirection from its intermediate position shown at the right hand of Fig.2, to its inoperative raised position shown in Fig. 7, rod 26 willbecome interengaged with arm 24 through and by virtue of the actionthereon by pivot 68 and pin 70, with the result of bodily shifting ofrod 26 and paddle 27 upon an arc and unaffected by the gravitationalurge of paddle 27 to remain in its horizontal position and theconsequent urge at said rod 26 to remain in a vertical position shown ateither hand of Fig. 2. By virtue of the interconnection of rod 26 witharm 24 through pivot 68 and pin 70 as arm 24 angularly shifts from itsintermediate position shown at the right hand of Fig. 2 to its verticalposition shown in Fig. 7, paddle 27 at all times will not be permittedto bump at or come in contact with side 11 or gunwale 12 of the boat assaid paddle 27 is shifted from its intermediate to its inoperativeraised positions.

Due to the interconnection aforesaid between rod 26 and arm 24 as thelatter is angularly shifted from its said intermediate position to itsvertical inoperative raised position shown in Fig. 7, rod !26 willultimately assume a horizontal position and paddle 27 will ultimatelyassume a vertical position, as seen in Fig. 7, with no portions of thelatter extending beyond the confines of the boat as delineated by thevertical plane extended upwardly from the adjacent side of boat 10.

When handle 20 is manually pressed toward the counterclockwise directionas viewed in Fig. 7, arm 24 will be angularly shifted to the oppositedirection. When said arm 24 comes to its intermediate position, orapproximately to it, as viewed at the right hand of Fig. 2, pin 70' willcommence to shift away from its contactual position with rod 26,permitting rod 26 to assume a vertical position, with paddle 27 assuminga horizontal positionillustrated in Fig. 2. From then on due to gravitysaid paddle 27 will continue to maintain the horizontal position, withsaid rod 26 maintaining a vertical'position as shown in'Fig. 2, untilsaid paddle 27 assumes 'an immersed position shown at the left handof'Fig'. 2.

From'the hereinabove description it will be apparent that when paddle 27remains in its in-operative raised position shown in Fig. 7, the boatwill be capable to approach by its side and clear any obstructionlaterally thereof such as embankment, pier, dock, wall or the like.

From the hereinabove description it will be apparent that upon looseningscrew 72 plate 67 is capable of a rotatableadjustment upon pivot 68 foradjusting the distance of pin 70 from rod 26 in order that the formermay come in contact with and bear against the latter at the very instantwhen paddle 27 commences to shift in an upward direction from itsintermediate position shown at the right hand of Fig. 2 towards itsinoperative raised position illustrated in Fig. 7. Thereby the adjacent'end of paddle 27 is prevented from hitting the side of the boat and ismade to clear the latter as said paddle 27 shifts in an upward directionfrom its said intermediate position. Thus, said pin 70 acts as means forinterlocking the adjacent ends of arm 24 and rod 26 as said arm 24shifts from its intermediate position to its vertical position shown inFig. 7, for thereby bodily shifting said rod 26 and paddle 27 in anupward direction and for preventing angular shifting movement of saidrod 26 with relation to said arm 24 as the latter is angularly shiftedfrom its said intermediate position to the inoperative vertical positionillustrated in Fig. 7. The ultimate result of the said interlocking ofthe adjacent ends of arm 24 and rod 26 as said arm 24 shifts .from' itssaid intermediate to vertical positions, will be complete clearance ofthe adjacent end of paddle 27, past the side of the boat, preventinghitting of the side of the boat by said adjacent end'of paddle 27 andconsequent damage to the boat or to said paddle 27, which otherwisemight ensue were said paddle 27 loosely connected with arm 24 duringangular shifting movement of the latter from its said intermediateposition to its vertical; inoperative, raised position.

While 'there are described herein preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

' What I claim as new is: v t

1. In a boat, including a gunwale, a boat propelling device comprising apusher rod, means for supporting said pusher rod within the boat in alongitudinal relation therewith, an arm substantially in a perpendicularrelation with said pusher rod, said arm being rigidly aflixed by one ofits ends to said pusher rod, the opposite end of said arm extendingoutwardly of the boat and beyond the gunwale thereof, a paddle affixedto said opposite end of said arm, means for imparting a rotary shiftingmovement to said pusher rod in either direction transverse of thelongitudinal axis thereof, means for imparting a longitudinal shiftingmovement to said pusher rod, said arm ,being adapted for selectivelyassuming a substantially horizontal operative position or an angularelevated inoperative position when a rotary movement has been impartedto said pusher rod to one or the opposite direction on operation of saidsecond named means, said paddle being adapted for selectively assumingan operative immersed position when said arm remains in a horizontalposition or an inoperative lifted position when said arm remains in itsangular elevated position, said paddle being adapted to push againstwater for propelling the boat when a longitudinal shifting movement hasbeen imparted to said pusher rod on operation of said third named meanswhen said paddle has been brought to its operative immersed position bythe operation of said second named means, a rod in a free pivotalrelation by one of its ends with said pusher rod, an anti-frictionroller carried by theopposite end of said rod, said anti-friction rollerresting upon the gunwale for guiding said pusher rod in its longitudinalshifting movement, and connecting means between said arm and said rodfor maintaining said arm in a spaced relation and out of contact withthe gunwale when said arrn remains in a horizontal operative position.

2. In a boat, including a gunwale, a boat propelling device comprising apusher rod, means for supporting said pusher rod within the boat in alongitudinal relation therewith, an arm substantially in a perpendicularrelation with said pusher rod, said arm being rigidly affixed by one ofits ends to said pusher rod, the opposite end of said arm extendingoutwardly of the boat and beyond the gunwale thereof, a paddle aflixedto said opposite end of said arm, means for imparting a rotary shiftingmovement to said pusher rod in either direction transverse of thelongitudinal axis thereof, means for imparting a longitudinal shiftingmovement to said pusher rod, said arm being adapted for selectivelyassuming a substantially horizontal operative position or an angularelevated inoperative position when a rotary movement has been impartedto said pusher rod to one or the opposite direction on operation of saidsecond named means, said paddle being adapted for selectively assumingan operative immersed position when said arm remains in a horizontalposition or an inoperative lifted position when said arm remains in itsangular elevated position, said paddle being adapted to push againstwater for propelling the boat when a longitudinal shifting movement hasbeen imparted to said pusher rod on operation of said third namedmeanswhen said paddle has been brought to its operative immersed position bythe operation of said second named means, a rod in a free pivotalrelation by one of its ends with said pusher rod, an anti-frictionroller carried by the opposite end of said rod, said anti-frictionroller resting upon the gunwale for guiding said pusher rod in itslongitudinal shifting movement'when said arm remains in its horizontaloperative position, connecting means between said arm and said rod formaintaining said arm in a spaced relation and out of contact with thegunwale when said arm remains inits horizontal operative position, and atensioning means connecting said pusher lit rod with said rod fornormally urging said arm to assume "an angular elevated inoperativeposition.

3. In a boat, including a gunwale, a boat propelling device comprising apusher rod, means for supporting said pusher rod within the boat in alongitudinal relation therewith; an arm substantially in a perpendicularrelation with said pusher rod, said arm being rigidly affixed by one ofits ends to said pusher rod, the opposite end of said arm extendingoutwardly of the boat and beyond the gunwale thereof, a paddle aflixedto said opposite end of said arm, a handle mounted upon said pusher rodsubstantially in a transverse relation with the longitudinal axisthereof, said handle being capable of angular shifting movement ineither direction for imparting to said pusher rod a rotary shiftingmovement transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof for selectivelybringing said arm to a substantially horizontal operative position or anangular elevated inoperative position for thereby bringing said paddleto an operative immersed position or an inoperative lifted position,said handle being capable of shifting in a longitudinal direction withrelation to the boat for imparting a longitudinal shifting movement tosaid pusher rod for thereby causing said paddle to push against thewater for propelling the boat when said paddle remains in its operativeimmersed position, a rod, a collar carried by one end of said rod, saidpusher rod extending freely through said collar for a free rotarymovement therewithin, an anti-friction roller carried by the oppositeend of said rod, said anti-friction roller resting upon the gunwale forguiding said pusher rod in its longitudinal shifting movement when saidarm remains in its horizontal operative position. connecting meansbetween said arm and said rod for maintaining said arm in a spacedrelation and out of contact with the gunwale when said arm remains inits horizontal operative position, and a tensioned coil springencompassing said pusher rod, one end of said coil spring being ri idlyatfixed to said pusher rod, the opposite end of said coil spring beingin engagement with said rod for normally urging the latter to an angularelevated inoperative position for aiding lifting of said paddle onangular shifting of said handle in one direction.

4. In a boat, including a side, a plurality of stays mounted upon theinner face of the side of the boat, each of said stays including a pairof downwardly converging walls, a plurality of cleats, each of saidcleats including a pair of downwardly converging faces, a plurality ofarms, one end of each of said arms being rigidly connected to each ofsaid cleats, an eye formed at the opposite end of each of said arms, apusher rod positioned within said eyes for a longitudinal shiftingmovement in a longitudinal relation with the boat, a boat propellingdevice carried by said pusher rod, normally said boat propelling deviceextending beyond the side of the boat, and means for imparting alongitudinal shifting movement to said rod for imparting a shiftingmovement to said boat propelling device for propelling the boat, saidcleats being adapted for an upward shifting movement within said staysfor disconnecting the former from the latter and thereby fordisconnecting said arms, said pusher rod and said boat propelling devicefrom the boat.

5. In a boat, including a side, an arm rigidly connected with the sideand extended inwardly of the boat, a pusher rod supported by said arm ina longitudinal relation with the boat for a free longitudinal shiftingmovement, a boat propelling device carried by said pusher rod, normallysaid boat propelling device extending beyond the side of the boat, meanscarried by said pusher rod for selectively immersing said boatpropelling device in water or for lifting the same therefrom, means forlongitudinally shifting said pusher rod for imparting to said boatpropelling device a pushing action against water for propelling theboat, and means for locking said pusher rod with the boat when said boatpropelling device has been brought to its lifted position on operationof said first named means.

aslaset 6. In a boat, including a side, an arm rigidly connected withthe side and extended inwardly of the boat, a pusher rod supported bysaid arm in a longitudinal relation with the boat for a freelongitudinal shifting movement, a boat propelling device carried by saidpusher rod, normally said boat propelling device extending beyond theside of the boat, means carried by said pusher rod for selectivelyimmersing said boat propelling device in water or for lifting the sametherefrom, means for longitudinally shifting said pusher rod forimparting to said boat propelling device a pushing action against waterfor propelling the boat, a drum, said drum including bottom and rimportions, said pusher rod being extended through the center of saidbottom portion, means for rigidly connecting said drum with said pusherrod, a pair of spaced friction elements, and means for supporting saidfriction elements within the boat in a rigid relation therewith, thespace defined by said friction elements being in alinement with the rimportion of said drum, when said pusher rod has been longitudinallyshifted on operation of said second named means beyond the rangerequired for actuating said boat propelling device the rim portion ofsaid drum being capable of shifting within the space defined by saidfriction elements to be engaged by the latter for maintaining saidpusher rod in a locked engagement with the boat and for therebymaintaining said boat propelling device in any selected positioneffected by said first named means.

7. In a boat, including a side, a pusher rod, means for supporting saidpusher rod within the boat in a longitudinal relation therewith, an arm,one end of said arm being connected with said pusher rod, a paddle, apivotal connection between said paddle and the opposite end of said arm,normally said arm remaining in a horizontal position with said oppositeend thereof extending beyond the side of the boat for supporting saidpaddle in an immersed position, means for rotatably shifting said pusherrod in a transverse relation with the longitudinal axis thereof forangularly shifting said arm for selectively bringing the latter to anangular intermediate lifted position or to a vertical raised position,when said arm has been brought to its angular lifted position onoperation of said means said paddle being capable of assuming a positionlifted out of water and substantially in alinement with the upper end ofthe boat, and means coacting with said pivotal connection forinterlocking said paddle with said arm when said arm continues toangularly shift from its intermediate angular position to its verticalraised position on operation of said first named means for causingbodily shifting of said paddle upon an arc and thereby for preventingcontact of said paddle with the side of the boat, when said arm hasassumed a vertical raised position said paddle being capable of assuminga position within the confines of the boat as delineated by a verticalplane extended in an upward direction from the side of the boat, saidfirst named means being alternately capable of imparting a longitudinalshifting movement to said pusher rod for thereby causing said paddle toshift against water while said paddle remains in an immersed positionfor thereby propelling the boat.

8. In a boat, including a side, an arm supportable by one of its endswithin the boat, a paddle, a pivotal connection between said paddle andthe opposite end of said arm, normally said arm remaining in ahorizontal position with said opposite end thereof extending beyond theside of the boat for supporting said paddle in an immersed position,means supportable within the boat for angularly shifting said arm forselectively bringing the latter to an angular intermediate liftedposition or to a vertical raised position, when said arm has beenbrought to its angular intermediate lifted position said paddle beingcapable of assuming a position lifted out of water and substantially inhorizontal alinement with the upper end of the boat, and means coactingwith said pivotal connection for interlocking said paddle with said armwhen said arm continues to angularly shift from its angular intermediatelifted position to its vertical raised position on operation of saidfirst named means for causing bodily shifting of said paddle upon an arcand thereby preventing contact of said paddle with the side of the boat,when said arm has assumed a vertical raised position said paddle beingcapable of assuming -a posit-ion within the confines of the boat asdelineated by a vertical plane extended in an upward direction from theside of the boat, said first named means being alternately capable ofimparting a shifting movement to said arm and said paddle in alongitudinal direction with relation to the boat While said paddle remains in an immersed position for causing said paddle to bear againstWater for thereby propelling the boat.

9. In a boat, a pusher rod, means for supporting said pusher rod uponthe boat in a longitudinal relation therewith, said means permittingsaid pusher rod to make selective shifting movements both rotary andlongitudinal with relation to its longitudinal axis, an arm rigidlyaffixed by one of its ends to said pusher rod in a transverse relationtherewith, a propulsion paddle affixed to the opposite end of saidarm,-and means for imparting to said pusher rod alternate rotary andlongitudinal shifting movements.

10. In a boat, a pusher rod, means for supporting said pushed rod uponthe boat in a longitudinal relation there with, said means permittingsaid pusher rod to make selective shifting movements both rotary andlongitudinal with relation to its longitudinal axis, an arm rigidlyaffixed by one of its end to said pusher rod in a transverse relationtherewith, a propulsion paddle affixed to the opposite end of said arm,and means for imparting rotary and longitudinal shifting movements tosaid pusher rod, said last named means being capable of alternateoperation for imparting a rotary movement to said pusher rod in bothdirections for imparting to said arm angular shifting movement forthereby selectively bringing said propulsion paddle to its operativeimmersed position or to its inoperative raised position, and forimparting a longitudinal shifting movement to said pusher rod forthereby causing said propulsion paddle to push against water forpropelling the boat when said propulsion paddle has been brought to itsoperative immersed position.

11. In a boat, a pusher rod, means for supporting said pusher rod uponthe boat in a longitudinal relation therewith, said means permittingsaid pusher rod to make selective shifting movements both rotary andlongitudinal with relation to its longitudinal axis, an arm rigidlyaflixed by one of its ends to said pusher rod in a transverse relationtherewith, a propulsion paddle afiixed to the opposite end of said arm,and a handle rigidly affixed to said pusher rod in a transverserelation, said handle being capable of imparting to said pusher rodalternate rotary and longitudinal shifting movements.

12. In a boat, a pusher rod, means for supporting said pusher rod uponthe boat in a longitudinal relation therewith, said means permittingsaid pusher rod to make selective shifting movements both rotary andlongitudinal with relation to its longitudinal axis, an arm rigidlyaffixed by one of its ends to said pusher rod in a transverse relationtherewith, a propulsion paddle aflixed to the opposite end of said arm,and a handle rigidly afiixed to said pusher rod in a transverserelation, said handle being capable of imparting to said pusher rod arotary shifting movement in both directions for selectively causing saidpropulsion paddle to assume an operative immersed position and aninoperative raised position, said handle being further capable ofimparting to said pusher rod a longitudinal shifting movement when saidpropulsion paddle has been brought to its operative immersed positionfor thereby causing'said propulsion paddle to push against water forpropelling the boat.

13. In a boat, including a gunwale, a pusher rod in a longitudinalrelation with the boat, means for supporting said pusher rod within theboat for rotary and longitudinal shifting movements with relation to thelongitudinal axis thereof, an arm rigidly connected by one of its endswith said pusher rod in a transverse relation therewith,'the oppositeend of said arm normally extending beyond the gunwale, a propulsionpaddle aifixed to said opposite end of said arm, means for imparting arotary shifting movement to said pusher rod in both directions forselectively shifting said arm to a substantially horizontal position orto an angular elevated position for thereby bringing said propulsionpaddle respectively to an operative immersed position or aninoperativeraised position, a rod freely pivoted by one of its ends uponsaid pusher rod, said rod being capable of selectively assuminghorizontal and angular elevated positions, a tensioning means connectingsaid pusher rod with said rod, said' tensioning means normally urgingsaid rod from its horizontal position to its angular elevated position,and'a stop carried by said arm, said stop being capable of engaging saidrod and bearing thereagainst from above when said arm remains in ahorizontal position for counteracting said tensioning means-due to theweight of said propulsion paddle and said arm upon said stop,

on actuating said second named means for bringing said propulsion paddleto its inoperative raised position said rod due to the action of saidtensioning means being capable of exerting pressure upon said stop frombelow for aiding said second named means for bringing said propulsionpaddle to its inoperative raised position, when said propulsion paddlehas been brought to its operative immersed position said second namedmeans being capable of imparting to said pusher rod a longitudinalshifting movement for thereby causing said propulsion paddle to pushagainst Water for propelling the boat.

14. In a boat, including a gunwale, a pusher rod in a longitudinalrelation with the boat, means for supporting said pusher rod within theboat for rotary and longitudinal shifting movements with relation to thelongitudinal axis thereof, an arm rigidly connected by one of its endswith said pusher rod in a transverse relation therewith, the oppositeend of said arm normally extending beyond the gunwale, a propulsionpaddle aflixed to said opposite end of said arm, means for imparting arotary shifting movement to said pusher rod in both directions forselectively shifting said arm to a substantially horizontal position orto an angular elevated position for thereby bringing said'propulsionpaddle respectively to an operative immersed position or an inoperativeraised position, a rod, a collar carried by one end of said rod, saidpusher rod extending freely through said collar for a free rotarymovement therewithin, an anti-friction roller carried by the oppositeend of said rod, said rod being capable of selectively assuminghorizontal and angular elevated positions, a tensioning means connectingsaid pusher rod with said rod, said tensioning means normally urgingsaid rod from its horizontal position to its angular elevated position,and a stop carried by said arm, said stop being capable of engaging saidrod and bearing thereagainst from above when said arm remains in ahorizontal position, the weight of said propulsion paddle and said armtransmitted to said rod through said stop being sufiicient to counteractthe action of said tensioning means for maintaining said rod in itshorizontal position, when said rod remains in its horizontal positionsaid anti-friction roller being adapted to rest upon and contact withthe gunwale, on operation of said second named means for bringing saidpropulsion paddle to its inoperative raised position said rod due to theaction of said tensioning means being capable of exerting pressure uponsaid stop from below for aiding said second named means for bringingsaid propulsion paddle to said last named position, when said propulsionpaddle has been brought to its operative immersed position said secondnamed means being capable of imparting to said pusher rod a longitudinalshifting movement for thereby causing said propulsion paddle to pushagainst water for propelling the boat, during said last named operationof said second named means said anti-friction roller being capable ofguiding said rod, said arm and said propulsion paddle in theirlongitudinal shifting movement with relation to said pusher rod.

15. In a boat, including a side, an arm, means for supporting one end ofsaid arm within the boat, a rod, a paddle, said paddle being of asubstantially rectangular formation and being rigidly aflixed at itscenter to one end of said rod, a pivot pin connecting the opposite endof said arm with the end of said rod opposite to that to which saidpaddle is affixed, normally said arm remaining in a horizontal positionwith the said opposite end thereof extending beyond the side of the boatfor sup porting said paddle in an immersed position, means Within theboat for angularly shifting said arm from its horizontal position to asubstanitally vertical raised position, when in said immersed positionsaid paddle being capable of assuming a horizontal position due to thegravity of said paddle and the action of said pivot pin, a head plate ina rigid relation with the said opposite end of said arm, a stop pincarried by said head plate, said stop pin being in a spaced relationwith said pivot pin, during the angular shifting movement of said armfrom its horizontal position to its vertical raised position said stoppin being adapted to come in a lateral contactual relation with said rodfor interlocking said rod with said arm so as to cause bodily shiftingmovement of said paddle upon an are unaffected by its gravitationalforce and for thereby preventing contact of said paddle with the side ofthe boat, when said arm has been brought to a vertical raised positionsaid paddle being capable of assuming a vertical position and within theconfines of the boat as delineated by a vertical plane extended in anupward direction from the side of a boat, and means for imparting ashifting movement to said arm and said paddle in a longitudinaldirection with relation to the boat while said paddle remains in animmersed position for causing said paddle to bear against water forthereby propelling the boat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS826,693 Sheen July 24, 1906 1,162,549 Barnes Nov, 30, 1915 2,599,791Swenson June 10, 1952

